I have a 03 1.6 Zetec 100000 miles on clock, just had a new thermostat housing and stat fitted went home on motorway about 5 miles and temp went into red went down a bit with heater on. Took it back to garage top hose to radiator is hot bottom was quite cool he thinks radiator is blocked.I can pump hot water through if I squeeze the top hose enough times, as a plumber by trade I would at a guess think I could push water faster than the pump could? Could the rad be partially blocked therefore not allowing water through quick enough I have seen this on combi boilers where hot water will run for a good 2 minutes before over heat kicks in (heat exchanger partially blocked).Some body said pump could have failed, can they fail that quick as everything ok before repair and it seems to be circulating through the heater matrix as the heat was dissipated, Also fan is working any thoughts?

hey buddy,

sorry to hear about the overheating issue.

Any blockages in the radiator at all? Might be work getting the engine tested to see if there is a crack in the head or a problem with the head gasket as well.

Hopefully it isnt something serious.

Hi thanks for reply in garage at moment mechanic says head is ok the problem is no circulation so either pump or a blockage fingers crossed.

mechanic says radiator ok pump ok head gasket not so ok.This is my weeks holiday so its not ok, but that's cars for you and it is getting on a bit but all and all its never let me down never failed to start and this is the first major problem we have had so could be worse.

Need some serious advise here how can a faulty head gasket cause my problem the fault I have is lack of circulation if the gasket has gone why have I got a full tank of water no signs of water in oil and how could a head gasket stop the flow of water? The only thing that's been done is a replacement stat guy wants to charge me £480

how did the mechanic determine that it was a headgasket issue? what sort of tests did he do?

does he want to charge you £480 for the headgasket replacement or for something else?

Second opinion time methinks. I wouldn't rule out the head, but it doesn't seem like the head to me. If I was a gambling man, I'd put a ten spot on it being an airlock.

I would carefully get the car back from the mechanic, don't drive long distance and try to keep the temperature low and get it home. Let it cool, then start it up, take off the cap from the header tank, if they are accessible then squeeze the water return pipe then the water pipe from the radiator (these will get hot). Keep repeating, this should force any air out of the system, and the temp gauge should return and settle on normal. Oh and ensure the heaters are on max and fans on full inside the car. I have had to do this on a couple of cars now and has worked a treat.

Be patient with it though, it can take a while to clear it, and your hands may cramp up!

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

Thanks finally got a pro on my wave length I have been pumping top hose and get hot water thru told mechanic this. Think hes taking Michael with gasket I am a plumber by trade so a coolant system is in my opinion a reverse of a heating system going back in morning to ask him to prove his diagnosis and why would a head gasket stop circulation why is my water full and why is there no water in the oil.

It isn't unheard of, a head gasket failure causing those symptoms, but that close to changing a part on the cooling system rings alarm bells. I will refrain from saying mechanic is full of shhhh.... it in case he is actually right, but I doubt that he is.

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

Yeah doesn't sound like a head gasket, your not using up coolant and you'd have white smoke out the exhaust, as Goodkat says reckon it's airlocked.....

Got car back told him couldn't afford and was going get another he advised me to go Japanese stronger engines apparently.Offered to pay for his time but he said wouldn't charge just to look at it so unless his name is Clark Kent how could he see the gasket has gone if he as removed any components he didn't disconnect the battery and if he did a gas test you would think he would want something even if it where only a tenner. Got some one to come and look think I will drain water completely and re-fill combi boilers often airlock on partial drain downs but with a heating system you have the luxury of closing rads down to force air out.

Ruled out airlocks have drained system a few times and can run for quite while temp stays normal but fan doe come n I am beginning to suspect pump there is very little circulation,can only guess what there is going round via gravity. As the leak I had was round the stat housing could this have left the pump dry and damaged bearings?

All ok now (touch wood) circulation now restored it was either partially blocked or partially air locked not sure which but suddenly circulation has been restored but what ever it was it was never HG at least im not £500 lighter thanks to every one who replied to this post.

there is a Ford TSB for the 1.4/1.6 mk1 Focus that stats a lower thermostat may be needed but thats not why i mentioned it the reason i did is they also stated a special way to fill the system to help stop air locks which then can cause problems with overheating

ford tsb.pdf